The 46-year-old, who was inducted into the American International College Hall of Fame in 2006, has spent his entire 24-year professional career with the Red Sox, serving as bullpen catcher, pro scout and advance scout before his most recent positions.

LeVangie has been an integral part of the transition among a young catching corps that saw Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart take over the full-time duties when both Christian Vazquez and Ryan Hanigan went down with injuries early in the season.

"He goes out there and he knows what to throw and when to throw it," Swihart said. "He's studied it. He helps us. Before games we'll sit in the meeting and he'll give us a breakdown. He runs the scouting part there. He's always prepared and always knows what to do and when to do it."

Even for Hanigan, a veteran catcher coming onto a new team at the start of the season with a completely revamped staff, the experience and information LeVangie provided was essential.

"Dana is very valuable," Hanigan said. "He's one of those guys who's first one here, last one to leave. Has so much information in terms of what these hitters have done and is always prepared and does all kinds of video work to get to save us time so we have some information about what's going on, and just in the way he presents the information and the way he is with guys, he's very easy to talk to and get along with, very likeable and awesome.

"He's always out there for the bullpens, working with the pitchers, working with the catchers, just always in, and guy has been around a long time and done this a long time with this team, so he's just one of those guys everyone leans on."

The preparation LeVangie brings likely comes from his days as a pro scout in 2005 and a major league advance scout from 2006-12.

Hanigan was convinced of LeVangie's impact and preparedness upon speaking with former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek in spring training this season. Varitek gave LeVangie a hearty endorsement.

"A guy like that who's going to put his reputation and stock in a coach verbally or publically, obviously all these guys are great and I can see why," Hanigan said. "Now that I've been here with Dana. He's a very, very knowledgeable guy. Being a catcher and understanding the game from that side of it is very helpful, definitely to the relievers but also for me, Swi and Vazqy."

Now that LeVangie has made the move to the bench, he's been able to provide immediate feedback to Swihart, rather than pulling the rookie aside after the game and explaining a different way to approach a hitter.

"He's very important," Swihart said. "Whenever I'm not playing, I go out and do drills with him. He's my go-to guy when I have a question. He understands the game as well as anybody and he's a great insight to have here."

Although Vazquez is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, he's been able to sit in on meetings and analyze the game alongside LeVangie, working through scouting reports and calling the game mentally from the bench.

When pitching coach Carl Willis took over a struggling staff in early May, LeVangie was his biggest asset. The bullpen coach works closely with every pitcher, and having that pre-existing knowledge provided a shoulder to lean on for Willis.

"Truthfully, he's been my most valuable player so to speak," Willis said earlier this season. "Being in the bullpen as he is day in and day out for side sessions with starters, (and) obviously in the bullpen with relievers. When I came in, he probably knew the pitchers more than anyone as far as their habits, the keys to their deliveries, bringing me up to speed on those things. Then his background as an advance scout in the past, that combined with his experience with these pitchers already, it kind of allows to more easily formulate a plan."

As bench coach, Lovullo leans on LeVangie for in-game decisions and pregame lineup construction, in addition to a variety of other details that have been thrown at the pair in recent weeks.

"When it comes to watching a baseball game, we already had conversations prior to him stepping into the dugout that told me we were going to be able to mesh quickly," Lovullo said. "Nothing has let me down from that. We've had really good conversation that's helped me stay ahead of the game."

The games themselves have little meaning, but the players and coaches know they are under the watchful eye of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

LeVangie's behind-the-scenes work is giving the players the best chance to succeed down the stretch. And it hasn't gone unnoticed.